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“Welcome on board” or “welcome aboard?” Which is correct? Let’s focus on the meaning of “welcome aboard” and “welcome on board” and how to use them appropriately in sentences.
In short, “welcome on board” and “welcome abroad” are used to welcome someone when they join a team, group of people or community.
These phrases originated from welcoming people when they got on ships or trains in the past.
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Welcome on Board and Welcome Aboard
They have two things in common:
- They both mean welcome to board the vessel (a ship, train, or plane).
- In a modern context, both phrases can be used to welcome new employees to the firm or welcome them as part of the team.
Examples of usage:
- “We’d like to welcome you aboard this flight.”
- “We’d like to welcome you on board as a new employee.”
Aboard Meaning
“Aboard” means on or into a vehicle, for example, a train, ship or plane.
Aboard can be used as a preposition: “I climbed aboard the boat.”
Aboard can be used as an adverb: “The ship sunk, killing one hundred people aboard.”
Welcome Aboard Meaning
You may hear “welcome aboard” when you get on some form of public transport. This is a friendly welcome.
The phrase “all aboard!” is said when a cruise ship or train is about to leave as a final warning for anyone who wants to get on the vessel before it goes.
You may also hear “welcome aboard!” when a new team member joins. It is a friendly, informal way of welcoming them to the team.
On Board Meaning
“On Board” means on or in a vehicle, for example, a train, ship, or plane.
It can be used as an adjective. The adjective can be spelled as one word, or it can be hyphenated: “onboard” or “on-board.” For example, “the onboard crew supervised the cabin.”
It can be used as a verb: “The company is good at onboarding new employees.
Welcome on Board Meaning
The phrase “welcome on board” can be used in the same way as “welcome aboard.” When you go on a ship, train, or plane, the crew might tell you, “welcome on board!”
If you want to welcome an employee, you could also say, “welcome on board.”
“Welcome aboard” sounds more friendly and casual than “welcome on board.”
Welcome Aboard vs Welcome On Board
Both phrases, “welcome aboard” and “welcome on board,” are correct, and you can use them interchangeably when speaking.
Aboard comes from the French phrase à bord. This has the same meaning as the English phrase “on board.”
Example Sentences:
- “You got the job. Welcome aboard!”
- “We would like to welcome on board the new marketing team.”
- The flight attendant will welcome you aboard the plane.
- “I’m glad you decided to join our team. Welcome on board!”
- “Welcome on board our new company president.”
- “Thank you for choosing our airline. Welcome aboard!”
- “The captain welcomed us onboard and told us to enjoy the flight.”
What is Onboarding a New Employee?
“Onboarding” is an important aspect of any successful business. Onboarding can be defined as everything that sets up a new employee for success in their role through the initial weeks and months after they join the company.
Example sentence:
- The company engages in formal onboarding by implementing courses for new workers to teach them more about their job roles.
- The onboarding process was very helpful, and I felt like I settled into my new job quickly.
What to Say When Welcoming a New Employee
Are you looking for what to say when welcoming a new employee to the office? Here’s how you can welcome them.
- Welcome aboard!
- Welcome on board!
- It is so nice to have you here.
- We are excited to have you here!
What to Say When Welcoming a Returning Employee
Are you looking for what to say when welcoming a returning employee to the office? Here’s how you can welcome them.
- Welcome Back! It is so good to see you again.
- I’m glad that you are back!
- We missed you. Welcome home!
Synonyms of Welcome Aboard/ On Board
You can substitute the idiom “welcome aboard” for more casual speech:
- Welcome to the club!
- Join the club!
- We are happy to have you here
We can replace “welcome aboard” with more formal phrases such as:
- We are pleased to welcome you to the team.
- Welcome to the team.
- Congratulations on being part of the team.
You may also be interested in: 15 Best Online English Courses Free & Paid (2022)
In Conclusion
A native speaker may use “welcome abroad” and “welcome on board” when speaking naturally and giving a warm welcome.
While it is often used as a travel phrase, it is also correct to use welcome aboard or welcome on board in social and even professional contexts in a friendly, informal manner.
Useful Links
- It is Worth it or it is Worthy? Meaning with Examples
- Best or Bests? Which is The Correct Way to Sign an Email?
- What Kind of Vs What Kinds of? Which is Correct?
- Research or Researches: Which is Correct? Simple English Explanations
- Have a Great Weekend or Have a Nice Weekend?
- Best Ways To Respond To “Hope All is Well” (Formally and Informally)
I'm an Irish tutor and founder of TPR Teaching. I started teaching in 2016 and have since taught in the UK, Spain, and online.
I love learning new things about the English language and how to teach it better. I'm always trying to improve my knowledge, so I can better meet the needs of others!
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